The effective relief of pain is of paramount importance to anyone treating patients undergoing surgery. Post-operative pain increases the possibility of post-surgical complications, raises the cost of medical care, and most importantly, interferes with recovery and return to normal activities of daily living. Therefore pain control is essential in the management of patients undergoing spinal surgery.Parenteral administration of narcotics has been the mainstay for postoperative pain relief in patients undergoing laminectomy and discectomy. Epidural and intrathecal opioids are also effective means of pain control in several major surgical interventions including spinal surgery. However, some of the side effects have limited their widespread use (eg, late-onset respiratory depression). Therefore, alternative measures of pain control including infiltration of paraspinal musculature with local anesthetics have been investigated with conflicting results. In situations such as laminectomies, where the epidural space is exposed as part of the surgical procedure, the application of absorbable gelatin sponge soaked in local anesthetics appears to be an alternative for providing postoperative analgesia. By investigating the probable analgesic effects of this method the investigators may relieve post laminectomy pain with minimal side effects and also costs.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
SUPPORTIVE_CARE
Masking
DOUBLE
In study group a 1 square centimeter piece of absorbable gelatin sponge will be soaked in the bupivacaine solution %0.25 and then will be placed by the surgeon in the epidural space before final closure.
In study group a 1 square centimeter piece of absorbable gelatin sponge will be soaked in the saline solution and then will be placed by the surgeon in the epidural space before final closure
Cleveland Clinic
Cleveland, Ohio, United States
reported post operative pain
We will test the hypothesis, that the bupivacaine-soaked sponge reduces postoperative pain or reduces opioid consumption in patients undergoing spinal surgery.
Time frame: Day 1
recorded opioid consumption
We will test the hypothesis, that the bupivacaine-soaked sponge reduces postoperative pain or reduces opioid consumption in patients undergoing spinal surgery.
Time frame: Day 1
reported pain
Bupivacaine epidural sponge increases the time from the end of the operation until the patient requested supplementation of analgesic.
Time frame: Day 1
reported side effects
We will also evaluate side effects of this method of analgesia such as sedation, urinary retention, hypotension, respiratory depression, nausea, vomiting and extremity weakness.
Time frame: Day 1
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